Methods and apparatus for lancet actuation

A lancet driver configured to exert a driving force on a lancet used at a tissue site during a lancing cycle, said device comprising:

• a voice-coil, drive force generator;
• a processor coupled to the drive force generator capable of changing the direction and magnitude of force exerted on the lancet during the lancing cycle;
• and
• a lancet position sensor coupled to the processor, the position sensor configured to detect lancet position during the lancing cycle and relay to the position sensor at least one of, skin penetrating performance or a skin penetrating setting of the lancet through the skin, the drive force generator using the at least one of skin penetrating performance or a skin penetrating setting of the lancet through the skin from the process to actuate the lancet to penetrate to a depth in the tissue site and pause for a controlled dwell time while in the tissue site, the dwell time sufficient to draw body fluid into a wound channel created by the lancet.